Mutasa South legislator Irene Zindi says commercialization of Air Zimbabwe is the way to go but the government should address the issue of corruption first.
“It would be unfair if I do not mention the stream of corruption cases that have been aligned with Air Zimbabwe which have also contributed to it being in the state in which it is today,” Zindi said.
“For example, in 1987, there was the Fokker deal plane scandal which involved over $100 million. I would not go into details of exactly what transpired but just to mention a stream of all the corrupt cases which contributed to state of Air Zimbabwe as it stands today.
“For example, The Chronicle also reported the case of Air Zimbabwe bosses looting over US$11 million. There is again another case of corruption involving Air Zimbabwe – $200 000, which the airline was being charged in a scandal which was to do with insurance.
“There is another case involving Air Zimbabwe which says, Air Zimbabwe bosses crush into suspension over some $5.2 million and the list is endless.
“These cases of corruption Hon. Speaker are the cases just to mention a few. The list being endless as it is, that corruption has contributed to the state where Air Zimbabwe is today.
“Therefore, the only solution as Hon. Dr. Mashakada has said earlier on about the issue of ownership and control, we are having all these corrupt cases taking place because it is who is connected to the Minister responsible for the airline at that particular time.
“And, does that Minister responsible really trace all these corrupt cases to its logical conclusion where we do see people being prosecuted for the misdemeanours that are happening at Air Zimbabwe. The answer is no Hon. Speaker.
“Therefore, this control and ownership, if we continue to inject money, that will never play any miracles if we do not address the issue, hence my strong recommendation that it has to be commercialised and find some investor who injects capital and will have control in terms of management and making sure that the rightful people have been recruited to take those very crucial positions in terms of decision making.”
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